Bush Declares ENERGY CRISIS

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http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11193-2001Mar29.html

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slza

-- slza (slzattas@erols.com), March 29, 2001

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Bush: Nation in 'Energy Crisis' By Mike Allen - Washington Post Staff Writer - Thursday, March 29, 2001; 1:30 PM President Bush said today the nation is "now in an energy crisis" and that is one of the reasons he has made environmental moves that have dismayed the country's allies around the world.

Bush made the statement during a news conference called with 45 minutes' notice, as he sought to call attention to his legislative priorities at a time that the Senate debate over campaign-finance reform is dominating news from Washington.

The administration this week made statements rejecting a treaty designed to inhibit global warming, and Bush announced two weeks ago that he would break a campaign promise to seek reductions in the carbon dioxide emissions of the nation's power plants. Both actions have drawn criticism from Japan and Europe. "I will explain as clearly as I can today and every other chance I get, that we will not do anything that harms our economy, because first things first are the people who live in America," Bush said. "That's my priority. And I'm worried about the economy, I'm worried about the lack of an energy policy, I'm worried about rolling blackouts in California. It's in our national interests that we develop a strong energy policy with realistic common-sense environmental policy. "And I'm going to explain that to our friends," Bush continued. "It is in their interest, by the way, that our economy remain strong, after all, we're a free-trading administration; we trade with each other."

Bush, who held a working lunch today with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, said the nation's allies "are beginning to learn what my administration is like, and they're going to find we're steadfast friends. "But a friend is somebody who's willing to tell the truth, and if there's a disagreement, to be able to state it clearly, to make it clear where we disagree," Bush said. "But for those who worry about our willingness to consult, they shouldn't worry. We are. We're going to be open-minded and we'll have open dialogue."

On other subjects, Bush did not commit to signing the campaign-finance reform bill that emerges from Capitol Hill, although he has said he is optimistic this is the year an agreement can be reached. "I look forward to signing a bill that makes the process better," Bush said. "Sometimes the legislators will say, 'Oh, don't worry – we've got the president!' I'm not sure exactly what that means, except if a bill improves the system and makes it to my desk, I'll be inclined to sign it. I, of course, reserve all options. The bills are forever changing. . . . I will make my decision once the bill makes it to my desk." Bush said he is "deeply concerned about the escalating violence in the Middle East – it is claiming the lives of innocent civilians on both sides." "The tragic cycle of incitement, provocation, and violence has gone on far too long," he said. "Both sides must take important steps to calm the situation now. The Palestinian authority should speak out publicly and forcibly . . . to condemn violence and terrorism. It should arrest those who perpetrated the terrorist acts. It should resume security cooperation with Israel. "The government of Israel, for its part, should exercise restraint in its military response," Bush continued. "It should take steps to restore normalcy to the lives of the Palestinian people by easing closures and removing checkpoints. Last week, Prime Minister Sharon assured me that his government wants to move in this direction, and I urge Israel to do so." In Bush's opening statement, he praised the House for yesterday's vote passing "a realistic, common-sense budget to the Senate." "I appreciated the vote," he said. "They did the right thing. It's a budget that meets our nation's priorities. It's also a budget that leaves ample room for meaningful, real, long-lasting tax relief. I look forward to working with the Senate to get a budget passed." Bush held the news conference at 10:30 a.m. in the White House briefing room. His staff said he preferred that less formal setting to the traditional East Room and said the location makes no difference to the American people. © 2001 The Washington Post Company

-- Ron Trapnell (fridayfiles@space.com), March 29, 2001.


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